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Introductory Weekend Meditation Retreat

Easwaran describes passage meditation as a “come-as-you-are party,” and our retreats reflect that. Everyone is welcome, and we hope you’ll feel relaxed and comfortable from the start.

Introductory RetreatTomales, California, USA3 days

In a group of 15–25 people, you’ll take part in interactive
workshops and exercises designed to help you practice what you learn.

About our style: our expertise is passage meditation, so
that’s what we focus on in a simple and straightforward way. You'll go home feeling refreshed and
energized, with some powerful strategies for calming your mind. We hope you’ll
find the retreat to be enjoyable and practical.

By the end of the weekend you’ll have:

Tried out passage meditation five times (each
session is 30 minutes and you can meditate on a chair or on the floor)

Experienced the benefits of a quieter and calmer
mind

Memorized two passages to use in meditation

Developed a personal plan for maintaining a
successful practice at home

Chosen a mantram to steady your mind throughout
the day

Tried out a “mantram walk” on the local beach
(optional)

Experienced a balanced schedule of learning,
rest, and optional times for exercise.

The workshops are interactive, and you can speak
up as much or as little as you choose. Workshops include:

Short presentations of
key concepts

Small group brainstorms

Readings and videos of
Easwaran

Q&A sessions

Individual reflection
time using worksheets.

Your retreat will be facilitated by two BMCM
presenters who are longtime passage meditators and have completed a five-year
training program.

The commuter fee (for program and meals, without accommodation) is $200.

Young Adults (20s and 30s)

The standard fee is $150. The sliding scale is $75–$200.

The commuter fee (for program and meals, without accommodation) is $100.

Sliding Scale

Our
sliding scale means that you can choose the price that's right for you. If you
can pay the standard fee, that will cover the cost of your retreat.

Please
choose a lower fee if the standard fee is too much for you to afford.

If
you add a donation to the standard fee, that will help others to attend – thank you!

The
BMCM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All of our work is made possible by donations.
While income from books and retreats covers a portion of our costs, everything
we do depends on the generosity of those who benefit from Easwaran’s teachings.

Each
dollar paid over the standard fee is a tax-deductible contribution. We keep all
donations and fee payments confidential.

Financial Aid

You are welcome to attend this program
with a scholarship if you need to pay less than the lowest end of the sliding
scale. Our scholarship fund is created out of donations from generous friends
to help more people attend programs.

We
also offer payment plans, so you can pay your fee in installments.

For
either a scholarship or payment plan, please don’t register online, and instead
write to financial.aid@easwaran.org
or call us at 800.475.2369. We’ll get back to you within three days.

Refund

If you need to cancel your retreat, please let us know as soon as possible and we’ll refund your full fee.

Accommodation

Our retreat house is a restored bed and breakfast, set in
a peaceful garden with views of rural Marin County.

We have two bedrooms at ground level reserved for retreatants
who can’t climb stairs. The other 11 bedrooms are accessed via a flight of
stairs. Some bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, others have a bathroom next
door.

Two bedrooms on the second floor are single, and we give
these to people with medical needs (to someone who uses a CPAP machine, for
instance). The other bedrooms are shared with one other person. You can tell us
in advance if you’d like to share a room with your friend or partner.

The workshop room and dining room are on the ground
level, and the meditation room is down a flight of stairs. You can also
meditate in the workshop room if you can’t climb stairs.

We provide linens, towels, and soap.

Meals

Our meals are home-cooked and vegetarian. There's
lots of food to choose from, plenty to eat, and we never skimp on
dessert. If you have a dietary restriction, we’ll provide a special
meal.

"The schedule flowed
nicely and we had time to be alone, yet feel connected with others. Everyone
was wonderful and this past weekend I gained the knowledge, and was provided
with the tools and support, to incorporate passage meditation into my everyday
life. I feel excited to have been provided such a unique experience.”

Amy, Scottsdale, Arizona

“Using of mantram is
already bearing fruits for me. I have reduced anxiety to a great extent. I have
become a lot calmer. Everyone around me is surprised. All in one day after the
retreat!”

Vishal, Santa Clara, California

“It was the right level for beginners. The facilitators
handled questions graciously and thoroughly. There was enough time for
fellowship. The accommodations are lovely. It met me right where I was.”

Judy, San Luis Obispo, California

“I appreciated the warm welcome and demeanor of the
presenters in general. It is easy to picture ourselves coming back again
and again. Thank you for this."